2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed . Seeing their faith , Jesus said to the paralytic , " Take courage , son ; your sins are forgiven ." 3 And some of the scribes said to themselves , "This fellow blasphemes ." 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said , "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts ? 5 "Which is easier , to say , ' Your sins are forgiven ,' or to say , 'Get up, and walk '? 6 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins "-then He said to the paralytic , "Get up, pick up your bed and go home ." 7 And he got up and went home . 8 But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck , and glorified God , who had given such authority to men .
9 As Jesus went on from there , He saw a man called Matthew , sitting in the tax collector's booth ; and He said to him, " Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house , behold , many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples . 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples , " Why e is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners ?" 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said , "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician , but those who are sick . 13 "But go and learn what this means : ' I DESIRE COMPASSION , AND NOT SACRIFICE ,' for I did not come to call the righteous , but sinners ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 9:2-13
Commentary on Matthew 9:1-8
(Read Matthew 9:1-8)
The faith of the friends of the paralytic in bringing him to Christ, was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Jesus Christ both could and would heal him. A strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was a humble faith; they brought him to attend on Christ. It was an active faith. Sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned: but if we have the comfort of peace with God, with the comfort of recovery from sickness, this makes the healing a mercy indeed. This is no encouragement to sin. If thou bring thy sins to Jesus Christ, as thy malady and misery to be cured of, and delivered from, it is well; but to come with them, as thy darlings and delight, thinking still to retain them and receive him, is a gross mistake, a miserable delusion. The great intention of the blessed Jesus in the redemption he wrought, is to separate our hearts from sin. Our Lord Jesus has perfect knowledge of all that we say within ourselves. There is a great deal of evil in sinful thoughts, which is very offensive to the Lord Jesus. Christ designed to show that his great errand to the world was, to save his people from their sins. He turned from disputing with the scribes, and spake healing to the sick man. Not only he had no more need to be carried upon his bed, but he had strength to carry it. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to do good.
Commentary on Matthew 9:9
(Read Matthew 9:9)
Matthew was in his calling, as the rest of those whom Christ called. As Satan comes with his temptations to the idle, so Christ comes with his calls to those who are employed. We are all naturally averse from thee, O God; do thou bid us to follow thee; draw us by thy powerful word, and we shall run after thee. Speak by the word of the Spirit to our hearts, the world cannot hold us down, Satan cannot stop our way, we shall arise and follow thee. A saving change is wrought in the soul, by Christ as the author, and his word as the means. Neither Matthew's place, nor his gains by it, could detain him, when Christ called him. He left it, and though we find the disciples, who were fishers, occasionally fishing again afterwards, we never more find Matthew at his sinful gain.
Commentary on Matthew 9:10-13
(Read Matthew 9:10-13)
Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others' obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy; for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.